The week in review

This “week in review”, Michigan Radio’s Weekend Edition host Rina Miller and political analyst Jack Lessenberry discuss proposed gun laws in Michigan, who might replace former Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway, and the new hiring rules for emergency financial managers in the state.

There are thee gun bills moving through the legislature.

Lessenberry says, “One, probably the least controversial, would bring Michigan gun control law into conformity with federal law. But then there is one that is almost directly opposite to that which affirms that federal gun control law doesn’t apply to any guns or ammunition manufactured in Michigan. . . The final bill would remove certain information about gun control from freedom of information act requests.”

Diane Hathaway officially resigned this week from the Michigan Supreme Court. She is expected to be in a federal courtroom next week to face a bank fraud charge. Miller wondered who is expected to replace her.

“The main names you are hearing are Coleen O’Brien who was a republican candidate for the Supreme Court last November. She finished dead last among all the major party candidates,” Lessenberry says.

Lessenberry also says Kirsten Frank Kelly who is a republican justice is also a consideration.

Miller and Lessenberry also discuss how The Treasury Department is inserting language in future contracts that says emergency financial manager appointees cannot engage in other employment, unless approved. This comes after Flint’s emergency manager resigned after it was discovered he had a second full time job as the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department security director.

This week, host Jenn White takes a look at Michigan politics with Ken Sikkema, former Senate Majority Leader and senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants, and Susan Demas, political analyst for Michigan Information and Research Service.

Yesterday, a state senate panel sent three gun related bills to the senate floor. The first would prohibit federal regulation of firearms and ammunition manufactured in Michigan, while the second would exempt certain information about gun owners and their weapons from Freedom of Information requests. The third bill would make state laws regarding gun dealers consistent with federal regulations.

Although Susan Demas is unsure as to how the bills, which supersede federal regulations would work, she does expect a backlash in court proceedings, if Governor Snyder signs these controversial bills.

"I'm sure we would see a court challenge if Governor Snyder were to receive these bills and sign them. The Senate today did pass the 'low-hanging fruit bill,' the one which seeks to alter language a little bit to keep us in line with the Fed. That's pretty uncontroversial. But this 'Firearms Freedom Act' as it's being called, that's very controversial," Demas said.

The state Treasury Department is changing the rules for people hired by emergency financial managers.

Barnett Jones was hired last year as Flint’s Public Safety Administrator by the city’s emergency manager. He resigned earlier this month after it was discovered he had a second full time job as the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department security director.

To avoid having that happen again, the state Treasury Department is inserting language in future contracts that says emergency financial manager appointees can not engage in other employment, unless approved by the EFM.